Unit maintains high standard

Pilot Officer Jeffrey Young parades the Unit Colours at No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit’s Tarakan Parade and 60th anniversary celebrations at RAAF Base Darwin.

Unit members stand at attention during the anniversary parade. Photos by CPL Ashley Roach

THRUST into action just five weeks after its formation in World War II, No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit has a distinguished record of service.

The unit stepped out proudly at RAAF Base Darwin during recent activities to celebrate its 60th anniversary.
114MCRU is the only non-flying Air Force unit awarded battle honours.

Commanding Officer 114MCRU Wing Commander Dennis Davison said the members relished the chance to parade the Unit Standard, embroidered with the unit’s crest, motto of “Swift to React” and four battle honours.

“The unit is justifiably proud of the Unit Standard and what it represents, and even more so on the occasion of the 60th anniversary,” WGCDR Davison said.

Founded on May 23, 1943, the unit was in action in Papua New Guinea within five weeks, vectoring Allied aircraft on to Japanese targets and providing early warning about Japanese air attacks. 114MCRU also took part in campaigns at Kiriwina – the scene of its heaviest air defence activity during the war – Los Negros Island and Tarakan – where the Japanese only ceased resistance after they had been virtually wiped out. The unit celebrates its anniversary every year with a Tarakan Parade.

Disbanded in 1948, the unit was reactivated in 1956, disbanded again in 1966 only to be re-formed in 1968. After being based at Amberley and Tindal, it moved to Darwin in 1999.

WGCDR Davison said 114MCRU remained prepared to deploy for tactical aerospace surveillance and battle management tasks in Australia or overseas.

The unit is looking forward to the arrival of a new air defence radar, the AN/TPS-117, that will be delievered under Project AIR 5375 early in 2004. The new radar, combined with upgraded command and control systems and vehicles, will greatly enhance the unit’s capabilities.

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